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The golfing weekend

Rikard Karlberg won the Italian Open in a play off with Martin Kaymer who threw away a 3 shot lead in the back nine with three bogeys. The German has not won since he coasted the US Open in 2014 which is rather odd. Sweden really only has one household name Henrik Stensen but a clutch of lesser known players like David Lingmerth, Jonas Blixt, twenty two stone Carl Petterssen and Freddy Jacobsen who are often in contention or better than that.

The USPGA BMW at Chicago proved to be a procession for Jason Day who is now officially the best in the world. There appears no fault to his game, he is driving well, his pitching is lethally accurate and he is sinking crucial putts. At the start of the year you would have put his contemporaries Rory McIlroy and Ricky Fowler ahead of him but the Australian since his victory in the PGA has been peerless. You also thought if a Johnson would win a major it would have been Dustin not Zach who triumphed at St Andrews.

Jeremy Chapman napped Jason Day at 8-1 , another of his selections Ricky Fowler finsihed in the top 5 whilst Steve Palmer ‘s pick the young and talented Matthew Fitxpatrick finshed a creditable third in Milan. Fortunes could have been won on Japan at 70-1 to best South Africa and Manchester City were 1-9 to beat West Ham, a juicy lay. The Racing Post recommended a Hammers punt.

The Solheim Cup was won by the States in a tremendous fight back after trailing 10-6 going into the singles. Given the promotion that the BBC give to women’s sport and their lack of any live sport events you might have thought they would have bid for the rights. When criticism is made of the switch of the Open to SKY remember how the channel has supported Ladies and Senior Golf as well as the less esteemed European Tour. The event was not without controversy. Suzanne Petersen the Norwegian golfer did not concede a putt which the Anericans thought had been. They picked up and after Peterssen complained forfeited the hole. It’s within the rules but she was roundly condemned which shows the fair play spirit of golf is alive and well.

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About John Pargiter

John Pargiter’s biggest claim to fame is his first-ever work experience job, as ‘legs’ (or runner) for Henry Longhurst. For many years he worked in insurance at Lloyds. After retiring he has returned to his favourite sport of golf and is a keen recreational sailor and grandparent. More Posts